Accident Claim Compensation from NHS over son’s disability
AN East Devon family, whose baby son was left seriously disabled after an operation, has won an 11-year legal fight with the NHS.
The boy, who is now 13, was left with serious brain damage after surgery to correct a hole in the heart condition at Bristol Royal Infirmary.
The High Court in London this week approved an undisclosed compensation settlement.
The family has also received a full apology from the United Bristol Healthcare NHS Trust.
A statement from the family, who do not wish to be named over fears this could lead to difficulties for their son at school, said: “We are relieved that after 11 years of perseverance by ourselves, and our legal team, our son’s avoidable brain injury sustained at the hands of the disgraced cardiac unit at the Bristol Royal Infirmary 13 years ago has finally been recognised and a settlement that will secure his future has at last been reached.
“We are comforted by the knowledge that, when we are no longer able to care for him, the financial and emotional burden will not fall on his younger sister.”
The child, who was just seven months when admitted to the hospital, was one of 300 cases that became known as the ‘Bristol heart babies’.
These cases became the subject of a public enquiry which ended in 2001.
The family first sought legal advice in 1996 and started legal proceedings against the NHS trust in 2005.
The family’s statement added: “Our only disappointment with today’s outcome is that this issue could not have been resolved years earlier.